Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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Fire extinguishing device and fire management system
The present invention relates to a fire extin-
guishing device, a fire extinguishing cartridge and a fire
management system comprising such a fire extinguishing de-
vice.
When a fire breaks out it is important to extin-
guish the fire as quickly as possible. Many valuable min-
utes have usually already passed before the fire brigade
arrives. Fire extinguishing appliances are therefore pre-
sent in many buildings in order to be able to extinguish a
fire immediately. A known example hereof is the rolled-up
fire hose connected via a tap to the water main. A second
known example are the sprinkler installations which are
also connected to the water main. Water is in many cases a
good extinguisher. There are however situations in which
water as extinguisher has little effect, or where water
even has an adverse effect, such as when the water begins
to react with chemicals that are present. Water damage
also occurs, this being highly undesirable.
Alternatives have been devised to obviate these
drawbacks. A first alternative are extinguishing gas in-
stallations, which are particularly effective for extin-
guishing fires in spaces where the extinguishing agent may
not be electrically conductive. In addition, there are wa-
ter mist appliances which are applied in the case of fires
with great generation of heat. Thirdly, extinguishing pow-
der installations are used, these being installed mainly
in industrial environments in order to extinguish flamma-
ble gases and highly inflammable chemicals. A further al-
ternative are the foam extinguishing installations,
wherein the surface which is on fire is covered by means
of a foam layer. The foam is stored under pressure in a
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pressure vessel. Another alternative are extinguishers
which make use of carbon dioxide (C02) . These extinguish-
ers have a hose and a black expansion horn or snow horn at
the outer end of the hose. Between expansion horn and hose
is a handle which must be held during use of the extin-
guisher. The handle is necessary because the outer end of
the unprotected horn becomes very cold (up to about -
80 C), and this extreme cold can cause third-degree burns.
Reference is further made to so-called halon ex-
tinguishers. Due to possible environmental damage the use
and possession of halons in fire extinguishers and fire
safety systems has been banned in the Netherlands and Bel-
gium since 1 January 2004. An exception is made for criti-
cal applications in civil aviation and in the military
field. Halon extinguishers were mainly utilized in com-
puter areas because the halon did not damage electronic
equipment. Halons are halogenated hydrocarbons. Under
pressure they are compressed into a liquid. The extin-
guishing action is realized by the negative catalytic ef-
fect on the combustion process.
A recent development are aerosol extinguishers. An
aerosol is a colloidal mixture of a substance in a gas.
Colloidal is the state of substances present in finely
distributed manner in a liquid or, gas,. wherein the parti-
cles are larger than a molecule and smaller than the par-
ticles in suspension. In this state aerosol is a dry, sus-
pended substance which behaves in the first instance as a
turbulent white smoke. This substance remains in suspen-
sion as long as there are great temperature differences
within a space. The extinguishing mechanism is as follows;
after activation of the dry, solid extinguishing agent it
is discharged as dry aerosol. The dry aerosol extinguishes
chemically, by intervening in the chain reaction of the
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combustion process by binding the free radicals. Binding
the free radicals prevents the free electrons in the outer
surface layer of the substance being able to react with
other substances, thereby stopping the combustion process.
Both actions take place mainly on the surface of the mi-
cro-size particles in the dry aerosol. The smaller the
particles, the more effective the action of the mechanism.
Aerosol extinguishers consist of pressureless containers
containing an extinguishing agent in solid form. This sub-
stance combusts after electrical or thermal ignition. Mi-
croscopically fine extinguishing powder is herein dis-
charged at high speed in the form of a mist. This mist
spreads like a gas and is a highly effective extinguishing
agent. The field of application of these extinguishers has
heretofore remained limited however to the smaller en-
closed spaces in order to achieve the desired concentra-
tion.
The present invention has for its object to pro-
vide a fire extinguisher which can be easily handled by a
user in order to extinguish a fire at a random location.
This object is achieved with a device for extin-
guishing a fire which is suitable for carrying and han-
dling by persons, comprising:
- a pressureless container for placing. of an ex-
tinguishing agent in solid form;
- an ignition member for electrical or thermal ig-
nition of the extinguishing agent for the purpose of form-
ing aerosol during extinguishing operations;
- a discharge member for discharge of the aerosol
in a directed jet or plume;
- a handling member for handling of the device by
a user; and
- a communication member for remote communication.
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By means of the communication means it is possible
for a user of the portable device to have contact with
persons who can provide or call in assistance and further
extinguishing. Advice can also be sought, and a warning
can be provided for the surrounding area. Physically dis-
abled persons in particular can benefit from such a device
because the application of aerosol-based extinguishing is
available with a relatively low weight compared to longer
known portable extinguishing devices. By means of the in-
vention it becomes possible for instance to provide a de-
vice with a spraying duration of about 30-90 seconds and a
weight of about 50-500 grams of active extinguishing mate-
rial without a pressure vessel being necessary as in known
fire extinguishers. In its entirety such a fire extin-
guisher can have a weight of less than a kilogram.
Through the use of an aerosol as extinguishing
agent and a suitable discharge member it is further possi-
ble to create a directed jet/plume. At a distance of at
least two to for instance six metres from the source of
the fire, this plume makes it possible to still be able to
reach the source in directed manner with a manually oper-
ated fire extinguisher. This is relatively far compared to
foam and powder extinguishers. Owing to the use of aerosol
no pressure vessel need be applied as. in the case of pow-
der and foam extinguishers. The device is hereby rela-
tively light in weight. One of the resulting options is
that the whole extinguisher can be carried and operated
with one hand. This makes the extinguisher highly suitable
for use by disabled persons who are for instance in a
wheelchair.
In a first preferred embodiment the device com-
prises location-determining means for determining the geo-
graphic location of the device in automated manner. This
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information can hereby be transmitted by means of the com-
munication means to emergency services or third parties
who can make further contact or take action. Variants of
location-determining means provided for embodiments in-
5 clude GPS, AGPS and/or location-determining means based on
mobile telephony standards.
In further preferred embodiments the communication
means comprise voice communication means. Humanly dis-
cernible information relating to the situation can hereby
be transmitted. It is hereby also possible to communicate
advice orally to people in the fire situation.
The device is more preferably adapted to send a
message to a fire management system as soon as the igni-
tion member is activated. The stated advantages are hereby
also achieved if the person in the fire situation does not
realize at that moment that communication is possible and
would therefore not use it or would forget it.
In an embodiment the communication member is
adapted for two-way communication. This makes it possible
for control room staff to communicate with the user. Staff
can hereby obtain information via the user on the spot. In
this case staff can also give the user instructions.
In order to keep the device in operating mode a
connector is preferably provided for placing in a docking
station for the purpose of charging a battery in the de-
vice. The device can hereby always be available on standby
at its storage position without the eventual user having
to take action for this purpose.
It is also possible for the device to be provided
with a battery which preferably has a minimum lifespan of
5-10 years. The device is optionally provided with a pro-
vision which gives an alarm signal when the battery is al-
most empty.
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The device preferably comprises potassium carbon-
ate, ammonium hydrogen carbonate and/or potassium nitrate
as extinguishing agent. Such extinguishing agents extin-
guish effectively and are for instance not harmful to hu-
mans.
In a further embodiment the device comprises a
protective casing (2), a part of which functions as dis-
charge member and in which the pressureless container is
arranged, optionally in removable manner. The advantages
of such an arrangement are a simple and functional design.
The housing functions partly as barrel, thereby saving on
parts.
A protective casing which comprises a plastic also
provides the advantage that it will be light in.weight.
With an activating switch for the device which is
arranged in or on the handle and which, at least during
use, can be electronically connected to the ignition mem-
ber, the ignition member can be activated by switching the
activating switch. It is advantageous here that the acti-
vation can either be effected automatically or by means of
a hand movement which is natural while the handle is being
held.
The pressureless container more preferably com-
prises a cartridge holder adapted for the placing of one
or more extinguishing agent cartridges, wherein the number
lies between 1-6 and preferably equals 3.
The device more preferably comprises a chamber for
receiving aerosol from the pressureless container, wherein
the chamber comprises a plurality of openings in an outlet
wall for passage of the aerosol.
The handle more preferably extends in adirection
substantially perpendicularly of a main axis of the dis-
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charge member. This can hereby be handled in simple manner
as a pistol.
A further aspect of the invention relates to a de-
vice for extinguishing a fire which is suitable for carry-
ing and handling by persons, comprising:
- a pressureless container for placing of an ex-
tinguishing agent in solid form;
- an ignition member for electrical or thermal ig-
nition of the extinguishing agent for the purpose of form-
ing aerosol during extinguishing operations;
- a discharge member for discharge of the aerosol
in a directed jet or plume;
- a handling member for handling of the device by
a user; and
- an arm support member for supporting the arm
during an extinguishing operation, wherein the arm support
member extends substantially in line with the direction in
which the extinguishing agent is discharged. An advantage
of such a device is that it is easy to handle, even by
people with relatively little arm strength. The natural
method of determining the direction by means of the arm
support member makes this embodiment very safe in use, and
effective.
A. further aspect of the present invention relates
to a cartridge for a device according to the present in-
vention, wherein the cartridge comprises an extinguishing
agent for forming aerosols.
The cartridge is preferably of cylindrical form,
and is substantially enclosed by a packaging.
The cartridge more preferably comprises a through-
hole.
The cartridge more preferably comprises a thermal
activating module which is adapted to generate a predeter-
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mined temperature using an electric current and to thus
activate the extinguishing agent.
A further aspect of the present invention relates
to a fire management system for registering a fire, com-
prising:
- a device according to the present invention;
- a central communication unit for providing com-
munication with the devices.
The fire management system preferably comprises a
number of detectors adapted to detect fire and/or smoke.
Further advantages, features and details of the
present invention will be further elucidated on the basis
of a description of several embodiments, with reference to
the accompanying figures, in which:
- Figure 1 shows a three-dimensional view of a
fire extinguishing device according to an embodiment of
the invention;
- Figure 2 shows a schematic cross-section of a
fire extinguisher according to a second embodiment;
- Figure 3 shows the protective casing of Figure 2
in more detail;
- Figure 4 shows a schematic three-dimensional
representation of the cartridge holder and the combustion
chamber;
- Figure 5 shows a schematic front view of the
cartridge holder;
- Figure 6 shows a schematic front view of the
combustion chamber in which the openings can be seen;
- Figure 7 shows an extinguishing cartridge as can
be used in the fire extinguisher;
- Figure 8 shows schematically a part of a fire
management system according to an embodiment of the inven-
tion;
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- Figure 9 shows a perspective view of a further
preferred embodiment;
- Figure 10 shows a cut-away side view of a fur-
ther embodiment.
Figure 1 shows a three-dimensional view of a fire
extinguishing device 1 according to an embodiment of the
invention. Fire extinguishing device 1, referred to here-
inbelow as fire extinguisher 1, comprises a protective
casing 2 and a handle 3. In this embodiment handle 3 is
connected to protective casing 2 via a cylindrical cou-
pling piece 4. Figure 1 also shows that there is an acti-
vating switch 5 on handle 3. Protective casing 2 has an
opening 6 and comprises a cartridge holder (not shown) for
holding extinguishing agent cartridges. This will be dis-
cussed in more detail hereinbelow.
If a user now detects a fire, he/she can use fire
extinguisher 1 to extinguish a fire. He/she can then grasp
fire extinguisher 1 by handle 3 and aim fire extinguisher
1 at the source of the fire. By pressing activating switch
5 the fire extinguisher 1 can then be activated, wherein
extinguishing agent comes out of opening 6 of protective
casing 2.
Figure 2 shows a schematic cross-section of a fire
extinguisher 1 according to a second embodiment, wherein
handle 3 is oriented substantially perpendicularly of a
main axis of fire extinguisher 1. This results in a fire
extinguisher which can be handled as a pistol, wherein the
user does not have to rotate the wrist. Coupling piece 4
is not present in this embodiment. Figure 2 shows that two
compartments are present in protective casing 2. One of
the compartments is a cartridge holder 9 which is adapted
to hold one or more extinguishing agent cartridges (not
visible). The other compartment is a combustion chamber
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10. The two said compartments fill only part of protective
casing 2. The remaining part functions as barrel of fire
extinguisher 1. The opening of the barrel is defined by
opening 6 of protective casing 2. Typical values for the
5 dimensions of the components of fire extinguisher 1 are
indicated in Figure 2.
Figure 2 also shows activating switch 5 and a bat-
tery 16. This switch 5 is connected to circuit 15 for ac-
tivating an ignition member 17. When the switch is pressed
10 in, an electric current is conducted from battery 16 to
ignition member 17 using circuit 15. Instead of a battery
16 it is possible to use an accumulator which can be
charged via an external connection. In order to indicate
that battery/accumulator 16 is not yet empty an indicator
14 is present, such as a LED lamp, which indicates when
the battery must be replaced or when the accumulator must
be recharged. Instead of an LED lamp a small screen can
also be present, on which the status of battery 16 is dis-
played. Ignition member 17 can for instance be a pyrother-
mal element which is heated by the current received from
circuit 15.
Ignition member 17 is arranged in or close to car-
tridge holder 9. Extinguishing agent cartridges comprising
an extinguishing agent which can .be activated. by heating
are inserted into cartridge holder 9. This extinguishing
agent preferably comprises potassium carbonate, ammonium
hydrogen carbonate and/or potassium nitrate.
Cartridge holder 9 is adapted such that the in-
serted cartridges make contact with the ignition member.
Activation of the extinguishing agent creates an aerosol
in combustion chamber 10. Combustion chamber 10 comprises
a number of openings in the direction of barrel 11. These
openings are so small that a pressure is built up in com-
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bustion chamber 10. The aerosol hereby leaves combustion
chamber 10 under increased pressure, this being indicated
with arrows 12 in Figure 2. The aerosol then leaves fire
extinguisher 1 via barrel 11. Barrel 11 provides for a di-
rected plume of the aerosol. The user can hereby aim prop-
erly at the source of the fire. By using suitable car-
tridges it is possible to create an aerosol plume with di-
mensions of between 2 and 5 metres for 90 seconds with the
fire extinguisher. It has been found that the plume here
has a sufficient density to extinguish a source of fire
within the stated time period. It will be apparent to the
skilled person that not all fires can be extinguished with
the fire extinguisher according to the invention. Nor is
this the object of the invention. The object of this fire
extinguisher is to effectively extinguish a starting fire
with a fire extinguisher which is relatively light and
therefore easy to handle.
Figure 3 shows protective casing 2 of Figure 2 in
more detail. Protective casing 2 can optionally be given a
multi-walled form so that the outer wall of casing 2 does
not become too hot during ignition of the extinguishing
agent. Protective wall 2 is preferably manufactured from a
light material such as plastic or aluminium. Other materi-
als known to the skilled person can also be envisaged. At
one of the outer ends of casing 2 the casing is closed us-
ing a disc 20. Disc 20 can comprise a hole 21 for attach-
ing the handle to casing 2 or for mounting cartridge
holder 9 in casing 2. Disc 20 can be welded or otherwise
fixed onto casing 2.
According to an embodiment two compartments are
placed in protective casing 2. These are cartridge holder
9 and combustion chamber 10 as shown schematically in a
three-dimensional view in Figure 4. In this embodiment
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cartridge holder 9 comprises three openings 22,23,24,
which lead to cavities 25. The extinguishing agent car-
tridges can be placed in cavities 25. Cavities 25 are of
cylindrical form here, but may also take a different form.
Cavities 25 have only a single opening, although it is
possible to envisage them having an opening on both sides
so that a cartridge can be inserted on an infeed side.
This infeed side is then closed, for instance by a cover.
Cavities 25 preferably have the same shape as the extin-
guishing agent cartridges, which will be discussed in more
detail hereinbelow. An activating member 17, such as a py-
rothermal element 17, is arranged between openings
22,23,24. Pyrothermal element 17 comes into contact with
the cartridges in a manner such that, when element 17 is
heated, the heat is transferred to the cartridges.
Combustion chamber 10 is wholly open on the side
directed toward cartridge container 9 and has on the other
side a number of openings 28,29,30,31. In this embodiment
a central opening 31 is present which is larger than open-
ings 20,29,30.
Cartridge holder 9 and combustion chamber 10 can
be coupled to each other by means of a screw connection,
this being indicated with the thick arrow. Other types of
connection can be envisaged...
Figure 5 shows a schematic front view of cartridge
holder 9, wherein openings 22,23,24 can be seen. Openings
22,23,24 are arranged round pyrothermal ignition element
17 such that, when extinguishing agent cartridges are
placed through the openings, they come into contact with
the ignition element. Ignition element 17 is connected via
for instance an electrical connection to circuit 15 shown
in Figure 2.
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Figure 6 shows a schematic front view of combus-
tion chamber 10, wherein openings 28,29,30 can be seen.
Openings 28,29,30 are arranged around central opening 31.
The number of openings depends on the necessary pressure
that must be developed. The pressure is of course also de-
termined by the size of the openings. Typical values for
the size of openings 28,29,30 are indicated in Figure 6.
An opening 28,29,30 is preferably placed for each car-
tridge.
In an embodiment the extinguisher 1 is embodied
with an extending barrel. The user can here extend the
barrel for use and shorten it again when fire extinguisher
1 is not required. The shortened extinguisher has a lim-
ited length and can be easily transported and/or stored.
In a further embodiment handle 4 is removably attached to
protective casing 2. It is hereby possible to supply the
fire extinguisher with a separately obtainable handle
which meets the requirements of the user. It may for in-
stance be that a person in a wheelchair requires a differ-
ent handle than someone who can walk.
Figure 7 shows an extinguishing cartridge 40 as
can be used in fire extinguisher 1. In this special em-
bodiment the cartridge itself comprises a thermal activat-
ing module 41 which can be activated electrically via an
electrical connection 42. Electrical connection 42 is con-
nected to a contact surface 43. When cartridge 40 is in-
serted into a cartridge holder of fire extinguisher 1,
contact surface 43 will come into contact with an activat-
ing point in fire extinguisher 1 which is adapted espe-
cially for this purpose and which is connected to circuit
15. In this embodiment the cartridge holder itself does
not therefore require an ignition element 17, and the ac-
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tivating point in the cartridge holder functions as the
activating member.
Figure 8 shows schematically a part of a fire man-
agement system according to an embodiment of the inven-
tion. The fire management system comprises a device for
extinguishing a fire, fire extinguisher 1, and a central
processing unit 80 for processing data. Processing unit 80
is for instance a computer situated in an emergency centre
81. The fire management system further comprises a number
of detectors 82 adapted to detect fire and/or smoke. A
docking station 83 is further present for placing of fire
extinguisher 1 therein. Docking station 83 is adapted to
charge the fire extinguisher in a manner known to the
skilled person. Once fire extinguisher 1 is charged, indi-
cator 14 lights up and/or changes colour. Docking station
83 further comprises a button 84 which can be pressed by a
user, for instance to cancel a fire alarm if necessary.
Docking station 83 is adapted to communicate, optionally
wirelessly, with emergency centre 81.
In the embodiment shown in Figure 8 fire extin-
guisher 1 has a handle 3 which encloses protective casing
2. Handle 3 is adapted to receive protective casing 2,
this such that protective casing 2 with the cartridge
holder therein can be replaced. Activating switch .5 is
present in the upper part of handle 3, see figure 8.
When a fire breaks out, smoke detector 82 will now
detect smoke and/or an increased temperature, and smoke
detector 82 will generate a visual and/or an audible sig-
nal. In this embodiment the smoke detector will moreover
also communicate with docking station 83 so that this lat-
ter produces a visual and/or an audible signal. A person
present can hereby easily trace fire extinguisher 1. It is
also possible to envisage fire extinguisher 1 itself hav-
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ing the communication functions of docking station 83, so
that docking station 83 is not necessary.
After the docking station has received an alarm
from smoke detector 82, docking station 83 sends a message
5 to emergency centre 81 using for instance SIM card 85. As
stated, the user can cancel the alarm by pressing button
84.
The user now localizes fire extinguisher 1 and
starts the extinguishing operation. It is possible to com-
10 municate with emergency centre 81 using fire extinguisher
1. For this purpose fire extinguisher 1 comprises a loud-
speaker and communication means, not shown, with a SIM
card 87 for optional use. By means of the SIM card contact
can be maintained between the user and the control room of
15 emergency centre 81. If the user indicates that he/she has
the fire under control, the control room does not have to
alert the fire brigade. This thus reduces the number of
times the fire brigade turns out unnecessarily.
In an embodiment of the fire management system a
database system is present which is adapted to store and
manage data relating to the degree of self-sufficiency of
a resident of a building. The control room can hereby be
quickly informed of additional hazards to which a person
in need.of assistance is exposed during a fire. Before a.
connection is made between the control room and the user
of the fire extinguisher, control room staff are thus
aware of the self-sufficiency of the person to whom they
are speaking. Valuable time is hereby saved since control
room staff can ask focussed questions.
In an embodiment fire extinguisher 1 comprises a
positioning system adapted, just as a GPS system, to de-
termine the location of fire extinguisher 1. This position
can be communicated to emergency centre 81 and/or the fire
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brigade. Without the user him/herself thus communicating
with emergency centre 81 the centre is thus nevertheless
aware of the exact location of the fire, or at least aware
of the exact location of fire extinguisher 1.
Figure 9 shows a perspective view of a further
preferred embodiment of a fire extinguisher 100 according
to the present invention. This fire extinguisher 100 of
highly ergonomic form has a technical operation as de-
scribed in one or more of the foregoing preferred embodi-
ments. Fire extinguisher 100 has an extinguishing agent
outlet direction in the direction of arrow A. This direc-
tion of arrow A is substantially in the line of the arm of
the user holding the device.
Fire extinguisher 100 is a light device unprece-
dented for a fire extinguisher, and can be handled by the
user in very simple manner. The user holds the device by
handle 104, wherein the index finger is able to operate
actuating button 105. The thumb is also able to operate
safety button 106. The fire extinguisher will be activated
when these two buttons are operated simultaneously. The
communication means will herein also be activated, and the
location determination will be performed. Depending on the
power source, the location determination can also be car-
ried out continuously or at set times.prior to use. .
In order to improve handling of the device an arm
support 101 is arranged along one side of handle 104. This
arm support 101 has a curved wall, with a base 102 and
support elements 103 curving on either side away from base
102. The arm support is designed such that the arm can be
placed in the curvature thereof for a stable `placing' of
the arm. The arm support makes it easier for the user to
determine or maintain the spraying direction during spray-
ing of the extinguishing agent from fire extinguisher 100.
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In an embodiment, see Figure 10, the arm support
comprises an elevation 110, whereby a support surface of
the arm support follows the shape of the wrist of a user.
The arm support, or wrist support, hereby fits closely on
and provides optimal contact with the wrist. This in-
creases the comfort and control for the user.
The present invention is described in the forego-
ing on the basis of several preferred embodiments. Differ-
ent aspects of different embodiments are deemed described
in combination thereof, wherein all combinations which can
be made by a skilled person on the basis of this document
should be included. These preferred embodiments are not
limitative for the scope of protection of this text. The
rights sought are defined in the appended claims.
